Grant Nel with coach Michel Larouche.

Grant Nel knew something was wrong the moment he finished training. 

It was September 2015, and everything was about to change.

“I was leaving training and I could just feel something was wrong in my back. By the time I got home I was in absolute agony.”

“I really didn’t sleep much that night because my legs were twitching a lot, and the next morning I had to go to the doctor pretty urgently, and I was bedridden for four weeks.”

“They then reassessed it and an MRI showed a perforated disc between L5-S1, so the vertebrae had shifted and was touching on the sciatic nerve, which was making me lose feeling in my leg.”

“It almost put me out of diving, and it’s been quite a long process to get back into shape, but we’ve taken our time and really made sure we’ve done it properly.”

The ‘we’ that Nel speaks of includes not only physio Tim Bass, but also coach Michel Larouche. After joining the SA-based, world-renowned coach almost a year ago, the two have formed a strong partnership.

“Michel has done amazing things for my diving. He’s made my focus at training a lot better. For where I’m at in my life, he’s very understanding.”

“He’s had so many Olympic gold and silver medalists under him, and just his huge amount of knowledge for the sport, and probably his passion for the sport more than anything is amazing.”

“Every single day, every single session, he is so excited to be there and to help us improve, and because of that you get your motivation.”

By Nel’s own admission, his motivation has waned at times over the past four years, and it has not been an easy road.

“I definitely lost a lot of motivation after missing out in 2012.”

“It wasn’t a very good time for me mentally, and obviously physically because I had a shoulder reconstruction, but I finished my studies and concentrated on that.”

Nel completed his studies and now holds an agricultural engineering degree, as well as working toward his private pilot’s license. He also says that his support network is a lot better this time around compared to the Trials four years ago, and he attributes that to one person over any other.

“My fiancée (Amanda) and family have been really great, and I’m very lucky that Amanda has moved over here with me, and we’ve got a great partnership so that really helps.”

The couple, who have been together for the better part of three years, are set to wed in Melbourne in December, with the world beckoning afterward with a six-eight week honeymoon on the cards.

Making this week’s Trials all the sweeter is the fact that they’re being held at Nel’s home pool in Ringwood.

“Ringwood has always been such a great club and community for me, and to be competing there will be amazing.”

“The dry land is really nice and very accessible, staff at the centre have been phenomenal, and I know all the athletes love the venue and are looking forward to this week.”

“I feel a lot more prepared (these Trials compared to the last), and physically I’m in really good shape. Hopefully I can produce close to my best.”

Grant Nel is competing at the 2016 Australian Open Diving Championships incorporating the Rio Nomination Trials at Aquanation in Ringwood from 26 - 29 May, 2016.